The Office of the First-Year Experience was recently named a winner at the National Orientation Directors Association Annual Publications and Media Showcase. FYE won in the categories of “Outstanding Use of Theme” for the 2007 “Build Your Future” Student Orientation campaign, and “Outstanding Orientation Website.” According to Dean of the First-Year Experience Lisa Trahan, “It is an honor to showcase the work of Rensselaer students and staff at the national level, and to have them receive recognition for their work.” The annual NODA Conference, which was held in Dallas, Texas, this year, provided an opportunity to further the RPI orientation program and develop channels of communication.
All printed materials were designed by FYE Assistant Dean Jonathan Masullo ’03 and EMAC student Brendon Woodworth ’08. Engineering students Sam Acevedo ’09 and James Cossavella ’09 designed LEGO models of four campus buildings and the RPI “bullet” which were used throughout the Student Orientation theme. The LEGO models were also incorporated into the Fall 2007 Convocation video using stop motion animation. Website design and coding was completed by Masullo and Joe Werther ’10. According to Masullo, the website was redesigned and created to be a comprehensive source of information, with more pictures and the Fall 2007 Convocation video available for viewing.
In addition, Masullo was a winner of the 2007 American Inhouse Design Award, which was presented by Graphic Design USA magazine for FYE’s Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond promotional campaign. A record number of 4,000 entries were submitted, and he was among the 15 percent that was recognized. Entries are received from all industries, including educational institutions, corporations and organizations such as the National Geographic Society and the National Institute of Health.
Masullo is currently pursuing a graduate degree in graphic design and has also been recognized in a student competition held by Creative Quarterly for the 2006 Orientation Theme campaign, “Get Connected.” According to Masullo, it is “nice to be recognized among peers. It makes you want to work that much harder.” In addition, he felt it was nice to work with students—who are able to contribute to the process in many ways and also benefit from the experience. Undergraduates have contributed to the theme design in the past and their input is welcome for the next year’s theme.
According to Vice President for Student Life Eddie Knowles, “Winning these two awards clearly shows that we’re leading the way nationally in first-year experience programs, and that we’re sustaining that level.”
Knowles also commented that “Lisa Trahan has provided outstanding leadership in running the FYE program, along with keeping us at that level we’ve achieved.”
The Office of the First-Year Experience website can be viewed at http://www.fye.rpi.edu/.
